I learned a lot from of this stuff in an old article downloaded and printed from Mallory about the use and design of power supply energized by vibrators. Very intetesting reading certainly. Although this technology is obsolete, but the theoretical knowledge is still valid, and returned to live with modern SMPSs.
Vanarn, Thanks! I have an old Artec (Belgium) preamplifier which has 2x251s and a high freq attuenator. So according to you this would be a passive preamplifier, makes sense. I am uncertain how this originally was used, other than it was taken from the plinth of a td124. Being 2 251s wouldnt that make it suitable for stereo (SPU) also?
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Hello I'm new to this forum and recently have become interested in SPU Cartridges. This is in part because Bob Woods has videos on utube with a Garrard 301 with Shure M2-12 with many cartridges and his sound clips with the Synergy SPU sound so dynamic and lively that it has sparked my interest. I have a VPI HW19 MkIV with a FR64s arm. I have a Koetsu Rosewood Signature on it now. I'm wondering if its worth buying a Synergy SPU and how different it would be to the Koetsu. Has anyone compared these 2 ? And how would you say the sound of the Synergy might differ from the other SPUs. Thanks.
Hi, The thing about SPU is that they need to run through a 1 to 3ohm SUT, then into a MM phono amp, to sound there best. I am currently using mine with a Fidelity Reserch FR2, set at 1ohm. You can also set it to 3ohms via a switch, but it sounds best & has a better back to front presentation at 1ohm.
Your arm may be to heavy for the SPU, as the FR64 has an Eff Mass of around 32grams & the head-shell for the SPU is massive. The two combined will I think pull your Resonant frequency down below 7hz, not good.
You can always remove the SPU cart from the body & use a adaptor to mount the cart, but people say hat does change the sound.
The SPU really has a sound of it's own & can be bloated in the base unless everything is right. The lower end models will not get near a Rosewood Sig, my 103 in nudded in Alli body with Boron cantilever is easily better than my SPU GE. But certainly with orchestral music, jazz & piano the SPU can sound very appealing. But then again so is my moded 103 & that has a far better bass line & does rock as well.
Cheers
Your arm may be to heavy for the SPU, as the FR64 has an Eff Mass of around 32grams & the head-shell for the SPU is massive. The two combined will I think pull your Resonant frequency down below 7hz, not good.
You can always remove the SPU cart from the body & use a adaptor to mount the cart, but people say hat does change the sound.
The SPU really has a sound of it's own & can be bloated in the base unless everything is right. The lower end models will not get near a Rosewood Sig, my 103 in nudded in Alli body with Boron cantilever is easily better than my SPU GE. But certainly with orchestral music, jazz & piano the SPU can sound very appealing. But then again so is my moded 103 & that has a far better bass line & does rock as well.
Cheers
You might consider a Royal N, it will give you the dynamic sound of the SPU in a form that can be mounted on relatively high mass arms. (No headshells) This was one of my favorite SPU variants when I had a number of them. I still have my SPU A95, but I sold the rest. I have a Mutech RM Kanda Hiyabusa which I generally prefer. (I mostly stream these days and no longer listen to a lot of vinyl.)
Regarding the original headshell mounted SPUs, I found that to fashion a pair of small bars
to bring the cartridge to a flat top surface and then to use a good head shell suitable for the
arm in use; in my case these were a FR64-S on an SP-10/II and an old Zeta on a Thorens124/1
For step-up I used a pair of very high gain Tamura Tx designed for a Kondo AudioNote I.o.
They were vastly expensive.The gain was excessive...and then I had to give these transformers back to the Japanese
owner who had let me have them for a couple of years on loan. But he borrowed my 64-s arm
and I have not seen it for over 20 years; nor will I as he died a few years ago. I cannot complain
as he gifted me a few prototype amps.
One good thing to do with an early SPU is to firmly cement the cartridge pins to the rear block
as they have a habit of moving when changing the mounting. Another week is to (carefully) cement
the cantilever tube to the body...! This tweet also applies for many other cartridges; I posted it
ref. a Denon 103 thread some 20 years ago.
EDIT:
Back in those days a factory rebuilt SPU/e could be bought for UK£30.oo
to bring the cartridge to a flat top surface and then to use a good head shell suitable for the
arm in use; in my case these were a FR64-S on an SP-10/II and an old Zeta on a Thorens124/1
For step-up I used a pair of very high gain Tamura Tx designed for a Kondo AudioNote I.o.
They were vastly expensive.The gain was excessive...and then I had to give these transformers back to the Japanese
owner who had let me have them for a couple of years on loan. But he borrowed my 64-s arm
and I have not seen it for over 20 years; nor will I as he died a few years ago. I cannot complain
as he gifted me a few prototype amps.
One good thing to do with an early SPU is to firmly cement the cartridge pins to the rear block
as they have a habit of moving when changing the mounting. Another week is to (carefully) cement
the cantilever tube to the body...! This tweet also applies for many other cartridges; I posted it
ref. a Denon 103 thread some 20 years ago.
EDIT:
Back in those days a factory rebuilt SPU/e could be bought for UK£30.oo
Thanks for your responses. I think I will try to optimize the Koetsu first before I invest in another cartridge. My only complaint with the Koetsu was the slightly fat bass. I tried adding a 2 gram weight to the 16 gram Jelco headshell and it tightened the bass up quite a bit so I have ordered an Ortophon LH 9000 which is 18 grams. The total weight would be 9+18 or 27 grams. The SPU Synergy is only 3 grams more at 30g. I thought the FR64s was commonly used with SPUs ? I also have a Denon 103R on an FR54 that was going to be my rock and roll turntable but the Koestu is still punchier especially bringing the drum kit up front so if I can tighten up that bass it might be the one. Even if I put the Denon on the FR64 the Koetsu is still punchier though not as tight. I have a Graham Slee Ascension which would work will SPUs. For the Koetsu I use a Bobs Devices sky 20 which was much better at the frequency extremes than my other transformer, a Fidelity Research FRT3. The FRT 3 works great with the Denon though. i also have a self built tube moving coil stage based on a JJ Curcio design from the 80s which uses 2 6922 tubes. It sounds great with an Audio Technica AT33PTG. Funny how each step up sounds better with different Cartridges. Those Bob Wood videos on Utube where he uses a Synergy with the Graham Slee Ascension is what sparked my interest. The Royal N might be interesting to try though. I'm also going to dissasemble the FR64 and clean it out and relube it. I don't know if I will rewire it though as it sounds pretty good now. I listened to a Blue Sound streaming with Tidal and the sound did not engage me like my Vinyl. I know streaming is getting better though. I appreciate all your experiences. Thanks.
Hi, I you still have the 103, make sure you put it in a Alli Cap, nudded & change the cantilever to Boron. You will not want for a better Rock cart & it could even rival the Koetsu.
That is what I am using now in my Temaad 12'' Magnesium arm. I have tried the SPU in this arm & it cannot match the upgraded Denon.
Cheers
That is what I am using now in my Temaad 12'' Magnesium arm. I have tried the SPU in this arm & it cannot match the upgraded Denon.
Cheers
Hi Dnic. Is this the Steve Bedard cap that the cartridge just pushes on to or do you have a link to a different one? His Cap is not nuded so it must be a different one. I probably won't change the cantilever for a while since the cartridge has very low hours on it still. Who did you use to change the cantilever? Did you use a line contact diamond then? Even the stock 103R is great for its price! Thanks, Rick.
Hi, There are lots of caps available, check out Flee Bay. The cap weight needs to match your arms Eff Mass, so the total Eff Mass is raised to between 30 to 35 grams.
Nude 103 is the best for S/Q, but that also lightens the unit. Recently I modded a cap by cutting the area away by the stylus, looks a bit weird, but S/Q improved. This type of mod is recommended by the NeedleClinic cartridge re-tipper
Cheers
Nude 103 is the best for S/Q, but that also lightens the unit. Recently I modded a cap by cutting the area away by the stylus, looks a bit weird, but S/Q improved. This type of mod is recommended by the NeedleClinic cartridge re-tipper
Cheers
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103 is the best because it's cheap like chips and a lot of "research companies " can wrap it in a piece of shite sticking an aftermarket needle inside and claim it as it's own "design". Since nobody on Rega budget can afford and have exposure to upper echelon of carts the myth perpetuates. Who in a right mind is buying those carts?
You mean this crapola ?
Audio MusiKraft First Series DL-103: $999–$1539 ★
MusiKraft started business making precision-machined metal shells for the classic Denon DL-103 cartridge, but soon found themselves selling shells with stock DL-103s installed, and shell-only sales ended in late 2019. These "First Series" products are sold direct only and are distinct from the company's Nitro Series products, which use modified Denon cartridges, and which we have not auditioned. The MusiKraft shell is machined in such a way that its two pieces, when assembled, tightly clamp the Denon cartridge's top plate; each shell is predrilled with five sets of tapped mounting holes, thus making cartridge mounting and alignment easier than ever. Prices start at $1499 for a clear-anodized aluminum shell in which a new Denon DL-103 has been installed. A MusiKraft Denon with a polished aluminum-lithium shell ($1689) impressed AD all to hell and back: The MusiKraft lacked "the slight treble glare" associated with his stock Denon 103, and provided "pitches and pitch relationships [that] were steadily, solidly right," and "vocal textures and tones with real meat and color." In 2019, MusiKraft introduced a bronze shell ($1959 with DL-103); whether or not because the higher-mass material is more suited to the low-compliance 103, the new version impressed AD with an even more nuanced, impactful sound. Even in light of a recent price increase, AD felt the MusiKraft combinations of high-tech shells and stock DL-103 cartridges offer very good value. (Vol.40 No.8, Vol.42 No.10 WWW)....
I bet there is a stampede of retirees with hearing range to 5kHz (who else is reading Stereophile ?) dying to buy $150 cart (that's probably a wholesale price to businesses ) for $2k
Audio MusiKraft First Series DL-103: $999–$1539 ★
MusiKraft started business making precision-machined metal shells for the classic Denon DL-103 cartridge, but soon found themselves selling shells with stock DL-103s installed, and shell-only sales ended in late 2019. These "First Series" products are sold direct only and are distinct from the company's Nitro Series products, which use modified Denon cartridges, and which we have not auditioned. The MusiKraft shell is machined in such a way that its two pieces, when assembled, tightly clamp the Denon cartridge's top plate; each shell is predrilled with five sets of tapped mounting holes, thus making cartridge mounting and alignment easier than ever. Prices start at $1499 for a clear-anodized aluminum shell in which a new Denon DL-103 has been installed. A MusiKraft Denon with a polished aluminum-lithium shell ($1689) impressed AD all to hell and back: The MusiKraft lacked "the slight treble glare" associated with his stock Denon 103, and provided "pitches and pitch relationships [that] were steadily, solidly right," and "vocal textures and tones with real meat and color." In 2019, MusiKraft introduced a bronze shell ($1959 with DL-103); whether or not because the higher-mass material is more suited to the low-compliance 103, the new version impressed AD with an even more nuanced, impactful sound. Even in light of a recent price increase, AD felt the MusiKraft combinations of high-tech shells and stock DL-103 cartridges offer very good value. (Vol.40 No.8, Vol.42 No.10 WWW)....
I bet there is a stampede of retirees with hearing range to 5kHz (who else is reading Stereophile ?) dying to buy $150 cart (that's probably a wholesale price to businesses ) for $2k